Breaking up sucks
Brett was dumped a few weeks ago. I mentioned it several days ago, the day I found out, but didn’t give any details. I was busy making a little boy smile.
Brett is 11 and has had this little girlfriend since LAST YEAR. Understandably, I’m totally fine with this breakup. From a girl whose name I have to share covertly. The first part of her name is nice, rhymes with “look” and is a lovely word for a stream. That last part of her first name is: sie. It rhymes wish Looksie. Crazy talk. But who am I to name your kid for you?
Anyhoo, this breakup was fine with me…awful for his bitty heart.
I was in the bathtub when Brett came in to talk to me. Um, yeah, that’s not unusual around this house. I keep waiting for them to start caring about seeing me naked, but they are completely unaware it’s maybe not a thing every one else does.
So, Brett comes in to talk to me, sitting on the edge of the tub and starts giving his invite list for a Christmas party the boys want to have with their friends. He lists 8 boys and 1 girl. This girl is unfamiliar to me. I ask, “What about your girlfriend? Did you forget her?”
“Nope.”
“Huh?”
“I included her.”
(Duh).
“Okay, you have a new girlfriend! Hooray for you! What happened to the other one?”
Face in hands, tears. Holy shit.
“Oh, baby doll, she broke up with you?”
Nods.
“I’m so sorry, that hurts. Was she nice about it, at least? Did she tell you that an evil gnome made her do it?”
He recovers a bit, smiles. And tells me that she was, thankfully, very nice about it. She did it in person, not through a friend, she wasn’t bratty or mean, she just very nicely said she still liked him but also liked another boy so she was breaking up. She patted his shoulder.
For an 11 year old girl, that’s pretty damn nice. For most of us, that’s pretty damn nice.
November 21st, 2007 at 2:33 pm
awwww. that was nice for an 11 yr old girl. i wish my oldest sons firts break up had been so gentle!
November 21st, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Aw. Well, here’s hoping the new one is even better.
Poor kid.
November 21st, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Cam would prolly be more shocked if she started seeing me with clothes on more often – shes is so unfased – I’m hoping it gives her a healthy outlook on her body image – you know – “If my mom is happy looking like THAT then I know I’m a hottie..” or soemthing like that.
and I am grateful for you that it was a gentle break up – you are right – that was gentle no matter your age. she seems like a sweet kid. Girlfriends at eleven huh?
sheesh – let me get ready…
November 22nd, 2007 at 5:47 pm
I know, I’m hoping my nakedness is doing something similar with their views on women’s bodies…as something normal not strange and exotic.
Yep, girlfriends at 10 honey, TEN. Ten. Freaked me out. But it’s that crazy “you’re my girlfriend and I can’t talk to you” brand.
November 25th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
awww…so cute…made me misty eyed. my daughter had the same boyfriend from 1-3rd grades. my husband made her break up with him, this year…4th grade. she wasn’t so nice about it. she told him she wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend anymore and she refused all his phone calls when he pursued her to get back together. he was brokenhearted, from what his mom told me. but, i guess, in both cases…it’s a learning experience for the boys.
anyway…i hope he is over her and is on to the next!
not sure how i got to your blog but…glad i did!
November 28th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Wow– that girl is WAY nicer than I was at that age.
Hope he feels better soon– I remember how crushing such things were back then, like the whole world was falling down on you.
Hope the rebound girl is a nice one, too.